Westministenders: Hey Hey we're the Monkies.

[RedToothBrush]

Welcome to the Listening Parliament.

Have you noticed it yet?

The Three Monkeys of See No Evil, Hear No Evil and Speak No Evil have been in a bit of a fight with didn’t fair well. Its funny how politicians of all shades and levels are desperate to prove just how good they at listening and how they see the problems.

Its quite incredible to think that officials elected to serve the public are even in this position where they are having suddenly think about how they show they are listening. It rather shows up that they have been accustomed to telling the public what to think and what to believe.

What they are still to work out, is that in saying they are listening, they also have to demonstrate they are listening and be credible.

The trouble is, that even though some of the monkeys have been killed off, we still have a lot of monkeys in parliament. 'Monkey say, Monkey do' actions still lurk. Politicians who imitate others without understanding the consequences.

There is no point in listening if you are only listening to one group and don’t understand the consequences of simply repeating the words of others.

Politicians saying they are listening when you can find dozens of incidents where they have said completely the opposition, without having the gumption to explain they have changed their position and without having the grace to explain the evidence that has lead them to change that position rather undermines the idea they are listening.

U-Turns are not a bad thing. U-Turns can show that you were making an error but were wise enough to admit that and why you were wrong. U-Turns are bad when you fail to acknowledge your failings and only do it to chase votes. This is where cynicism creeps in and lack of trust in politicians occurs.

Listening also requires actions to reflect words. There is no good in saying one thing, if your actions don’t reflect that. This is where the Listening Parliament is already failing. And I’m sure we will see it more.

Above all, listening is only part of a conversation. A politician is supposed to be accountable. They are supposed to have their eyes open to evil, not deaf to it and not unwilling to speak inconvenient truths where they recognise the evil.

Any politician who tells you they listen needs to back it up somehow. They need to demonstrate and justify their positions accurately. If they don’t they aren’t listening properly.

Isn’t it funny how it was in Hartlepool that the monkey got hung for being a Frenchman? No one was there to explain differently.

[DividedKingdom]

Thanks red you're a

[BigChocFrenzy]

Thanks yet again, red We're keeping you busy !

[Peregrina]

Placemarking - or should that be 'placemat king'?

[OlennasWimple]

Placemat king

Thanks red

[HashiAsLarry]

Thanks red

[Mistigri]

Still reading, not posting much because since its last update my iPad hates long mumsnet threads.

Thanks red

(Shameless placemark)

[woman12345]

thanks red

All this listening seems to be nicked from a certain trot in charge of the labour party strange times.
news.sky.com/video/corbyn-on-leadership-its-about-listening-not-just-talking-10897887

[howabout]

Evidence of Westminster listening to Holyrood who have made a statement in support of withdrawal from the London Convention on fishing rights.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40467090

[IrenetheQuaint]

Great work, Red. I find myself wondering what your professional background is - whether you work on related issues or are just an erudite observer.

[LurkingHusband]

.

[pointythings]

The original plaicemat king.

[ClashCityRocker]

Placemat King!

[WhenSheWasBadSheWasHorrid]

Thanks Red. So glad these threads are here, although I struggle to keep up.

[squoosh]

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[Motheroffourdragons]

Thank you again Red.

I am place matting or placemat kinging for now. I had the misfortune to be travelling from Belgium to the Uk yesterday so struggling to keep up.

I was also the victim of a weird sort of road rage on the M25 by some twat who clearly thinks that Belgium should just piss off (from my numberplate), and braked hard right in front of me.

Nice welcome home, thanks.

[BestIsWest]

Place matting

[HesterThrale]

Placemat king.

Interesting that you mention the Hartlepool monkey, Red. You know that funny thing where you come across something new, and then it keeps cropping up? I'd literally just been reading that a theatre in London is putting on a play about that. Might be good for older children:

stratford-circus.com/event/the-hartlepool-monkey/#data-sc-tabs-alt-index%3D%220%22=overview

[HesterThrale]

I too was intrigued by the poll that found some Leavers wanted to keep their EU citizenship. Apparently 58% of Leavers would even pay handsome sums of money for the privelege. Well, we all know a way of getting it for free, don't we?

www.google.co.uk/amp/www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/leave-voters-ready-pay-to-keep-eu-citizenship-brexit-poll-lse-opinium-a7819001.html%3Famp

[howabout]

Not 58% of all Leavers but the 58% Leave within the 68% who want to retain citizenship rights and are prepared to pay. This seems to me to be entirely consistent with the Leave view that those who benefit from FoM should pay for it rather than society as a whole - another way of describing taking back control of immigration.

[howabout]

.. and actually on 3rd reading I am struggling to find internal consistency within the percentages quoted, although the logic point above still stands.

[Artisanjam]

Placemat king. Thanks red.

[illegitimateMortificadospawn]

Phew! Nearly caught up with you.

[boldlygoingsomewhere]

Still catching up on the last thread - marking place here so I don't lose you all!

[JustAnotherPoster00]

Placematting aristocrat

[lamado]

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